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Platform Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Platform Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$125K - $200K/yr

... platforms) * Evidence of ambitious, self-driven projects or work that required problem solving and ownership * Experience designing scalable systems that support many users * Solid programming ...

About the job Platform Engineer Company Overview: GigXR (www.gigxr.com) is a leading provider of immersive learning solutions, specializing in transforming healthcare and educational training through ...

As a Platform Engineer, you'll work on the full-stack systems that power Flux's platform experience beyond the editor: billing, authentication, onboarding, and integrations. You'll ship production ...

Platform Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$72K - $85K/yr

NPI Server Platform Engineer Responsibilities: * This person will execute NPI builds and day to day activities in the factory * Drive technical issues to closure by working with Hardware/Software ...

Platform Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$72K - $85K/yr

NPI Server Platform Engineer Responsibilities: * This person will execute NPI builds and day to day activities in the factory * Drive technical issues to closure by working with Hardware/Software ...

As a Platform Engineer, you will build and ship essential platform components, support production systems, and integrate enterprise solutions using cutting-edge AI tools. Responsibilities : • Build ...

Platform Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $280K/yr

About this role As a Platform Engineer at Speak , you'll be the driving force behind the reliability and resilience of the systems that power our global language learning experience. You'll lead ...

We are seeking a Platform Engineer with an active Top Secret/SCI clearance to play a pivotal role in automating and orchestrating our critical infrastructure. This position is ideal for a technical ...

Platform Engineer San Jose About Hark Hark is an artificial intelligence company building advanced, personalized intelligence. One that is proactive, multimodal, and capable of interacting with the ...

Bachelor's degree in ME, CS, CE, or related field (or equivalent industry experience) with 3+ years in platform, systems, or networking engineering. * Minimum 5-10+ years of experience in similar ...

Platform Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$140K - $196K/yr

In this role, you will be part of an SRE team supporting our company's efforts in expanding our automation and development platform across our manufacturing teams. Your mission will be to design and ...

In this role, you will be part of an SRE team supporting our company's efforts in expanding our automation and development platform across our manufacturing teams. Your mission will be to design and ...

We are seeking a Platform Engineer with an active Top Secret/SCI clearance to play a pivotal role in automating and orchestrating our critical infrastructure. This position is ideal for a technical ...

We are seeking a Platform Engineer with an active Top Secret/SCI clearance to play a pivotal role in automating and orchestrating our critical infrastructure. This position is ideal for a technical ...

Bachelor's degree in ME, CS, CE, or related field (or equivalent industry experience) with 3+ years in platform, systems, or networking engineering. * Minimum 5-10+ years of experience in similar ...

Platform Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$100K - $170K/yr

We are seeking a Platform Engineer with an active Top Secret/SCI clearance to play a pivotal role in automating and orchestrating our critical infrastructure. This position is ideal for a technical ...

Platform Engineer San Mateo, CA (Hybrid) Eve is redefining legal technology for plaintiff law firms, and we're building the team that will take us there. We help firms handle more cases, recover more ...

We are seeking a Platform Engineer with an active Top Secret/SCI clearance to play a pivotal role in automating and orchestrating our critical infrastructure. This position is ideal for a technical ...

As a Platform Engineer, you'll work on the full-stack systems that power Flux's platform experience beyond the editor: billing, authentication, onboarding, and integrations. You'll ship production ...

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Showing results 1-20

Platform Engineer information

See California salary details

$32

$63

$93

How much do platform engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for platform engineer in California is $63.12, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49.81 and $72.84 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What jobs pay 500,000 a year in the US?

In the US, high-paying roles such as senior executives, specialized surgeons, and successful entrepreneurs can earn $500,000 or more annually. Certain technology roles like senior software engineers, cloud architects, and platform engineers with extensive experience and advanced skills may also reach or exceed this level, especially in leadership or highly specialized positions. Achieving this income often requires advanced certifications, significant experience, and working in competitive or high-demand industries.

What Is a Platform Engineer?

A platform engineer writes code that bridges the gap between software and hardware and tests the system so that it runs effectively and smoothly. In this career, you are a vital part of the software and hardware industries. You run diagnostics tests to verify the correct design of hardware, which usually means writing code for manufacturing diagnostics so that the testing of the hardware takes place automatically. The qualifications needed for a career as a platform engineer include a bachelor’s degree in computer science or an associate’s degree and relevant work experience.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior platform engineers, cloud engineers, and software engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills, and certifications such as AWS or Google Cloud can earn $300,000 or more annually. High compensation often reflects expertise in scalable systems, DevOps, and leadership roles within technology companies or large organizations.

What does a platform engineer do?

A platform engineer designs, builds, and maintains the underlying infrastructure and tools that support software development and deployment. They work with cloud services, automation, and scripting to ensure scalable, reliable, and efficient platforms for applications. Proficiency in programming, cloud platforms, and system architecture is essential for this role.

What are Platform Engineers?

Platform Engineers are IT professionals who design, build, and maintain the foundational technology systems (or platforms) that enable software development and operations teams to deploy and manage applications efficiently. Their work involves creating scalable, reliable, and automated infrastructure, often using tools like cloud services, container orchestration, and CI/CD pipelines. Platform Engineers collaborate closely with developers, DevOps, and IT teams to ensure that the technology stack supports business needs and software delivery. They help streamline workflows, improve system reliability, and enable faster release cycles.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Platform Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Platform Engineer, you need a solid background in computer science, systems architecture, and cloud infrastructure, often supported by a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with containerization tools (like Docker and Kubernetes), infrastructure-as-code platforms (such as Terraform), and cloud services (AWS, Azure, or GCP) is typically required, along with relevant certifications. Strong problem-solving skills, collaboration, and effective communication help Platform Engineers drive reliability and innovation within technical teams. These competencies are crucial for building scalable, secure, and efficient platforms that support an organization's technology needs.

How does a Platform Engineer typically collaborate with development and operations teams?

Platform Engineers work closely with both development and operations teams to design, build, and maintain scalable infrastructure and deployment pipelines. They often serve as a bridge, ensuring that applications can be deployed reliably and efficiently while meeting the requirements of both teams. Regular communication is key, as Platform Engineers gather feedback from developers about tooling needs and coordinate with operations to uphold system stability and security. This collaborative environment fosters automation, streamlines workflows, and supports continuous delivery practices.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior platform engineers or software engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills, and working at large tech companies or in high-cost-of-living areas can earn $500,000 or more annually. Achieving this level often requires advanced expertise in cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, and leadership roles, along with stock options or bonuses.

What is the difference between Platform Engineer vs DevOps Engineer?

AspectPlatform EngineerDevOps Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in CS or related field, often cloud certificationsBachelor's in CS, DevOps certifications (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
Work EnvironmentDesigning and building platform infrastructure, working with cloud servicesAutomating deployment, CI/CD pipelines, and system operations
Industry UsageTech companies, cloud providers, SaaS firmsSoftware development, IT operations, cloud services

Platform Engineers focus on creating and maintaining the underlying infrastructure and platforms, while DevOps Engineers streamline development and deployment processes through automation. Both roles collaborate closely but have distinct focuses within the software development lifecycle.

What are the most commonly searched types of Platform Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Platform Engineer jobs in California are:
What job categories do people searching Platform Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Platform Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Platform Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Platform Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Platform Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 60% Full Time, 37% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $131,284 per year, or $63.1 per hour.
Kubernetes Platform Engineer

Other

Posted 23 days ago


Job description

Title: Kubernetes Platform Engineer
1 year contract - Extension/Conversion possibility with job performance
We are seeking a Kubernetes Platform Engineer to join the Platform Engineering team as a hands-on individual contributor. This role focuses on day-to-day operations and administration of Kubernetes clusters, primarily on-premises (K3s/RKE2) with additional support for cloud environments on Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Amazon Web Services (AWS). You will manage cluster lifecycle operations, implement and maintain Cilium-based networking, troubleshoot complex platform issues, and enable development teams to successfully deploy and operate their workloads. This position balances infrastructure operations with developer enablement, requiring both deep technical expertise and strong collaboration skills.
The Team
The Platform Engineering team is a small team within ESnet's Systems and Software department that is dedicated to streamlining the software development lifecycle by establishing standardized processes for building, configuring, and deploying applications. The team supports the engineering, implementation, and maintenance of ESnet's platform systems and services including GitLab, Ansible, and Kubernetes environments, with responsibility for both on-premises and cloud-based services deployed across Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Major Responsibilities
Cluster Operations & Administration

  • Manage the full lifecycle of Kubernetes clusters (on-premises K3s/RKE2, GKE, and EKS), including upgrades, security patching, scaling, and capacity planning
  • Troubleshoot cluster-level issues including control plane problems, node failures, and resource constraints
  • Implement and maintain cluster security hardening based on CIS benchmarks and organizational security policies
  • Manage etcd cluster health, backup procedures, and disaster recovery capabilities
  • Monitor cluster performance and optimize resource utilization across multi-tenant workloads
  • Coordinate with datacenter operations team for physical infrastructure changes and maintenance windows
Networking & Cilium CNI
  • Implement, configure, and maintain Cilium CNI across on-premises and cloud Kubernetes environments
  • Design and enforce network policies to achieve secure multi-tenant isolation
  • Troubleshoot complex pod networking issues including DNS resolution, service discovery, and connectivity problems
  • Configure and maintain BGP peering with physical network infrastructure for on-premises integration
  • Work with network engineering team on firewall rules, VLANs, IPv6 networking, and network architecture
Internal Developer Platform & Enablement
  • Contribute to building a next-generation internal developer platform inspired by tools like Backstage, focused on increasing development efficiency and security
  • Work with the security team to define secure image baselines and automate the patching pipeline for container images
  • Assist development teams with deploying, configuring, and troubleshooting Kubernetes workloads
  • Review application deployment manifests and provide guidance on best practices and optimization
  • Develop and maintain platform documentation, runbooks, and self-service guides
  • Engage with development teams to understand platform needs and tailor the cluster experience to meet evolving requirements
Required Qualifications
  • Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 6 years and a Master's degree; or equivalent experience.
  • Demonstrated experience administering Kubernetes on on-premises infrastructure (K3s, RKE2, or similar bare-metal distributions)
  • Experience with cloud-managed Kubernetes (GKE and/or EKS)
  • Strong understanding of Linux networking fundamentals: iptables/nftables, routing tables, DNS, TCP/IP stack, network troubleshooting
  • Experience with GitOps methodologies and tools such as ArgoCD or Flux
  • Proficiency in scripting and automation: Bash, Python, Go
  • Cilium CNI or equivalent production experience
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and communicate technical concepts clearly
  • Understanding of Kubernetes security best practices including Pod Security Standards, RBAC, and secrets management
  • GCP (Google Cloud Platform) and/or AWS (Amazon Web Services) cloud platform experience
Preferred Qualifications
  • Go programming experience for operator maintenance and platform tooling development
  • CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) or CKS (Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist) certification
  • Background in BGP routing protocols and network engineering concepts
  • IPv6 networking experience
  • Infrastructure as Code experience with Terraform or Ansible
  • Experience with internal developer platform (IDP) tools such as Backstage or similar
  • Experience with service mesh technologies (Istio, Linkerd)
  • Excellent understanding of code review and familiarity with GitHub and GitLab workflows